The International Festival of Christian Puppetry and Ventriloquism is a busy week for us. This year’s event is July 5-10 in Bourbonnais, IL. We’re getting everything ready and there’s still time for you to register. It’s a busy week for us, but the week after is also busy, with One Way Street exhibiting at three different events…all the same week.

Come by and say “Hi” to us at these other events!

Fellowship of Christian Magicians
July 12-16
Marion, IN

The Fellowship of Christian Magicians holds it’s annual convention each summer and One Way Street loves being a part of it. Many different forms of creative arts ministry are highlighted in workshops and performances, but, as you can guess, there is a particular emphasis on Gospel Illusions. Some of this year’s featured guests include: Justin Flom, Randy & Ben Christensen, Jillybean, Jesse the Juggler, and many more

Vent Haven ConVENTion
July 14-17
Fort Mitchell, KY

The Vent Haven ConVENTion is not a Christian gathering, but it is the world’s largest and oldest convention for ventriloquists. Ventriloquists of all ages come to this annual gathering to share their talents with each other. It’s not unusual to encounter nationally known ventriloquists such as Jeff Dunham or Terry Fator at this event. But what do you need with them when you’ve got One Way Street’s own Liz VonSeggen? She’ll be there too!

Children’s Ministry Expo
July 15-16
Lexington, KY

This is the very first year for the Children’s Ministry Expo! The emphasis is on the giving people a chance to see a wide variety of children’s ministry tools. There are literally TONS of exhibitors who will be displaying all the best resources for children’s ministry…One Way Street will be one of them. There are also a variety of mini-workshops called “scoops.” Dale VonSeggen will be leading a few of these for One Way Street. Now here’s the best part…it’s only $25 to attend!

This morning I got an e-mail that informed me that a young lady from Cincinnati, Megan Piphus, graduated Princeton High School as valedictorian. This by itself was enough to make me smile. We’ve known Megan for quite a while. Megan has shared her ventriloquism talents at I-Fest many times in the past. She has even been a part of the Ventriloquist Dream Team at the conference. I have to admit, it took me a minute to get over the initial shock that she was graduating high school. I still think of her as being much younger than she is. She is strong, both in her ventriloquism skills and her walk with the Lord.

What was extra great about getting this news is that apparently she gave her valedictorian speech along with one of her vent puppets! Plus, there was a YouTube video to prove it!

This is what it’s all about folks! Here is a young lady who is just graduating high school and she has been using her God-given talents to minister to kids longer than most adults serving in most children’s churches this weekend. I have no doubt she will continue to minister to kids of all ages for years to come.

We’re continuing to keep you posted on all the great instructors we’ve got scheduled for I-Fest 2010 (July 5-10 in Bourbonnais, IL). We are excited to have Joe Bruce as our opening night ventriloquist performer. Here is a great video that will give you a brief look and Joe!

Joe and his wife Fondee (also one of our I-Fest instructors) have 10 kids. Yes, that’s TEN kids, and many of them are great puppeteers and ventriloquists in their own right. One of the things that’s so neat about Joe is that he’s not just a children’s ministry guy. Joe is actually the lead pastor of his church! How would you like to have your lead pastor be a ventriloquist!?! We know you’ll be blessed by Joe and the rest of the Bruce family. Come see him in action at I-Fest 2010!

Just a quick note, visit One Way Street’s website to check out the puppeteers and ventriloquists selected for this year’s I-Fest Dream Teams. These performers will work together throughout the festival to put together the closing performances of the week.

Check them out here (Dream Teams) and then register for I-Fest so you can check them out in person!

We’ve been highlighting several of the I-Fest hands-on classes here at the blog, and we will continue to do so. But now, you can check out the complete list of hands-on classes at One Way Street’s website:

The hands-on classes are a great opportunity to learn a new skill, plus you get to take home what you make! But remember, you can’t sign up for these classes until your I-Fest registration is in. I-Fest is July 5-10 in Bourbonnais, IL. See you there!

After I posted on the National Day of Prayer earlier today, our good friend Doug Nearpass pointed us to a YouTube video of a performance he did last night at a National Day of Prayer event. Doug is an excellent ventriloquist and a frequent performer/instructor at our puppet festivals and I-Fest. Doug is also proof that even a puppet performance can be very deep spiritually. Enjoy the clip…

We want to introduce you to another one of our specials guests for the 2010 International Festival of Christian Puppetry and Ventriloquism, Judy Buch. Judy is from Connecticut and is nationally recognized as a performer as well as a corporate speaker. To put it simply, she’s one of the best ventriloquists you’ll ever see. She was even recognized as Ventriloquist of the Year by her peers in 1996.

Judy will be sharing as a workshop leader and will be one of our featured performers during the I-Fest evening programs. Judy is also one of several ventriloquists who will be available for private coaching sessions at I-Fest. Don’t miss out on this chance to meet Judy and her cast of characters!

We are thrilled to have ventriloquist Gene Cordova as one of our special guest at the 2010 International Festival of Christian Puppetry and Ventriloquism! Gene and his puppet buddies have been traveling evangelists for over 20 years. Gene will be sharing his skills both in workshops, and as one of our featured performers.